《古宋香水山芙蓉寺題詩 (1911)》 [Note: Zhu De wrote this poem at 25 years old on graduation from military college. Years later, Chiang Kai Shek admired it so much he recited it to his generals, to urge them to learn poetry to be better leaders.]《To the Hibiscus Temple at Fragrant Hill (1911)》
已饑已溺是吾憂 I care for the perennial hunger and torment in motherland
急濟心懷幾度秋 To help uplift this common fate I had in years lent a hand Continue reading →

梅花開後桃花開 Following plum flowers pears are in bloom
綠竹青松夾岸排 On the banks bamboos and green pines shown
唯有荔枝園更好 I say the best place is in the Lizi garden
林空噴出暖泉來 Where hot spring waters fill bathing ponds Continue reading →

江南轉戰又江東 You commanded battles south of the river then east
大將年年建大功 A great commander you succeed every year at ease
家國危亡看子弟 A nation in crisis her future depends on the people
河山欲碎見英雄 Hills and rills shattered a salvation gives rise to a hero Continue reading →

朋輩志同意自投 Friends we are sharing the same goal and determination
團成砥柱止中流 United we form a strong column to stop the evil invasion
肅清日寇吾儕事 To rid of the Japanese thief is our noble responsibility
鷸蚌相爭笑列侯 Civil battling among brothers should be a laughing entityContinue reading →

歷年征戰未離鞍 Years in battle I have been on saddles all the time
贏得邊區老少安 Frontier people young and old are now safe and fine
耕者有田風俗厚 Every farmer owns his land a reality confirmed
仁人施政法刑寬 With kind leadership punishment for crimes is mild
實行民主真行憲 Practicing democracy and adhering to our Constitution
只見公僕不見官 We see civil servants and no powerful officials
陝北齊聲歌解放 In northern Shanxi people sing to rejoice for liberation
豐衣足食萬家歡 Rich in food and clothing all families happy in celebration

七星降人間 The seven immortals have come to dwell on earthly sight
仙姿實可攀 Their fairy peaks we could now freely climb
久居高要地 They had dwelled on lands high
仍是發沖冠 Trees and greeneries loam over their tops nigh
開心才見膽 Happily we see their bosoms opened wide
破腹任人鑽 Allowing travelers to loiter as much as they like
腹中天地闊 Inside the hills a world of wonders in space wide
常有渡人船 People paddle boats through rather than hike

遠望春光鎮日陰 From afar the town Spring Light looks cloudy
太行高聳氣森森 The towering Mt. Taiheng has an air eerie
忠肝不洒中原淚 Dutiful sons of our motherland shed no tears leaving the central plain
壯志堅持北代心 Determined we will drive the enemy north our will pristine
百戰新師驚賊膽 The New Army in many battles has shattered Japanese guts to ruins
三年苦斗獻吾身 In three years of bitter fighting I have devoted to pursue victory
從來燕趙多豪傑 Our country has seen many heroes and fierce fighters in history
驅逐倭兒共一樽 We will drink to celebrate whence we rid of the Japan dwarfs totally

群峰壁立太行頭 Mt. Taiheng’s many peaks stand like a solid wall
天險黃河一望收 Towering on the Yellow River shores seen once for all
兩岸烽煙紅似火 Battling fires on both banks burn like red fire
此行當可慰同仇 This campaign will rid of our common enemy entire

《To Our Defense Fighters on Anniversary of Japanese Invasion (1940 summer)》Zhu De

報國仇同志亦同 We defend our motherland hates and determinations equal
精誠團結伏強戎 With unbending devotion we unite to nail the savage foe
新師少壯身猶健 A new army youthful and skilled we stand
掃寇歸來唱大風 After defeating the dwarfs we together sang Continue reading →